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XxXxX
Not much phased Alastor. He was a man of infinite composure; always smiling, always in control. Or, at least, that was what he'd have you believe. Internally, he was…struggling.
He'd agreed to attend Charlie's Christmas party on the pretense of being the host of the hotel, a title he still held despite how absent he'd been in recent months. Lucifer hadn't been wrong when he'd claimed Vaggi did most of the work that his title entailed, and now that she had been named the official manager by Charlie, there wasn't really any need for him.
Alastor suspected that the reason he'd been allowed to stay was due to the princess’ guilt at leaving him with Vox for so long. She had apologized profusely for not attempting to rescue him, and while he'd brushed off her concerns with a genial smile, he couldn't help but feel a bit shaken. His standing at the hotel, once solid and indisputable, was now precarious, especially with a certain someone around.
That someone was Lucifer. The King of Hell was one of the major reasons he was having a hard time, at the moment. Since the battle with Vox, Alastor had been observing the man with intense focus. At the start, it had been under the guise of knowing thy enemy. Though the miniscule monarch was incapable of harming him directly, that didn't mean he wasn't still a threat. Beneath that goofy exterior lay power; power capable of blasting through Heaven's well laid defenses and knocking the Pearly Gates clean off their hinges. That was nothing to scoff at. And so, he'd watched.
As expected, he'd found much he disliked about the man. His fondness for bright colors, ducks, and…polka music. His incessant need to be near and dote on his daughter at all hours of the day. The way he spoke, the way he moved, even the way he styled his hair annoyed Alastor.
And yet, slowly over time, these same things were becoming, dare he say, endearing? He wasn't quite sure when it happened, but irritation was replaced by genuine interest, then infatuation. For a time, he'd denied it, but the thrumming of his heart each time the King entered a room Alastor himself occupied seemed indisputable proof of these new pesky feelings plaguing the Overlord. He'd even found himself behaving less aggressively towards him, sometimes even going so far as to be nice.
And so Alastor began avoiding Lucifer. Of course, he'd made sure to do so in ways that weren't overtly obvious, always finding a plausible reason to excuse himself from the room while not leaving quickly enough to cause suspicion. This tactic had been working out well for him, so far; these feelings of his not nearly as strong without the monarch's admittedly adorable face around. Still, he knew some might find his absence odd, were he to refuse to attend the Princess’ party, and so he'd agreed to participate in the night's festivities.
‘I'll just have to avoid him. That should be easy enough,’ he'd reasoned, feeling confident in his ability to do so.
Which brings us to Alastor's current struggles. He'd entered the hotel's ballroom as though he owned the place; the picture of poise and composure; the Radio Demon in all his glory, quickly making his way to the bar, where Husk had two fingers of rye waiting for him. Alastor nodded his thanks and turned around to begin schmoozing when he noticed the Morningstars from across the room, and every bit of composure he had went out the window.
Charlie was wearing a dress that resembled a Santa outfit, complete with a Santa hat on her head, while Vaggi, standing beside her, was in a dress that resembled a Christmas tree. Neither of them were what had garnered his attention, however. No. It was Lucifer, standing with his back to him, talking to Charlie, who had knocked the wind from his lungs.
His usual suit had been switched out for a white tuxedo with red and gold accents, and instead of his white tophat/crown combo, on his head sat a pair of large multipronged antlers, decorated with lit white candles and sprigs of holly. These monstrosities were flanked by two fluffy deer ears the same shade of blonde as his hair. Unlike Alastor's own, which had black tips, Lucifer's had white…and he couldn't stop staring at them. That is until he noticed a flicker of movement lower down and saw that the King had a deer tail, as well; as fluffy and soft-looking as his own. The sight kicked his heart into overdrive.
Charlie, noticing him, waved in greeting and Lucifer, noticing Charlie, turned to look at him. What happened next nearly gave Alastor a heart attack. Based on Lucifer's body language and almost bored gaze, he seemed unbothered by Alastor's presence. His deer anatomy, however, told another story. The King's ears perked in interest and that fluffy tail began to wag.
‘What the fuck?’ Alastor thought, beyond confused. He quickly gave a polite nod to Charlie and turned to walk in the opposite direction. He had barely taken a step when Lucifer manifested in front of him in a swirl of red and gold magic. The man had a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Hey there, Bambi! Like my antlers?” He angled them towards the sinner's face, nearly taking out an eye in the process. “Of course, they're bigger than yours,” Lucifer bragged, “but that's to be expected, what with me being the King of Hell and all.”
Alastor's grin tightened into a grimace as he leaned back to avoid being blinded by the idiotic man before him. Not one to ever be outdone, however, he quickly morphed his smile into a smirk and leaned forward, invading the monarch's personal space as the man had invaded his, his head tilted beneath the large wrack of antlers, making him look almost amused. “Why, Your Majesty! If I am Bambi, would that make you Faline?” He asked, glancing at the King's ears briefly before focusing once again on his face. In the short time it had taken to do that, Lucifer's eyes had widened and a deep gold blush appeared on his pale cheeks.
Realizing what he'd just said, Alastor quickly disappeared into the shadows and made his way to a darkened corner on the opposite end of the room. There he clutched the front of his coat as though that would slow the thundering organ beneath. ‘What the fuck was that?! Why did I say that?! And why did he-?’ The vision of the King's golden blush was seared into his mind. Pretty was the word that came to mind, which only made his heart race faster. ‘Get a grip!’ he commanded himself. ‘It has to be a fluke!’ The tail wag, the blush; they just had to be... The sinner took a long deep breath, made sure his smile was firmly in place and as natural-looking as possible, then turned to rejoin the fray.
X
It was not, in fact, a fluke. As Alastor observed the King throughout the night, it became clear that Lucifer's new deer anatomy was an easy tell for his mood; a prime example of this being his interactions with the Deadly Sins. Charlie had invited the remainder of the Seven, all of whom had shown up, and while the situation Alastor found himself in was nerve-wracking, he did find it amusing to watch the King react to each of his old companions.
The flattening of his ears made it clear he was not a fan of Mammon or Satan. He apparently felt fairly neutral about Leviathan, though he seemed more comfortable talking to the head on her left; the one with the friendlier smile and softer gaze. He felt most relaxed around Belphegor, his tail lying completely flat for the first time that night while in her presence.
The most interesting reaction, however, and the one that tied to Alastor, was when Beelzebub and Asmodeus arrived. Lucifer's ears had flattened and his tail had tucked down nervously until it became obvious his old friends were ecstatic to see him. Once that fact was made clear, his ears perked and his tail went wild, the appendage continuing to wag throughout their conversation. Add to that the fact that his tail wagged every time he saw his daughter, and it seemed very likely that Lucifer…what? Liked him? That couldn't be right. He would have to test this theory.
He started out slow, with little glances here and there. Alastor was subtle. You could almost mistake his glances for him simply looking in the direction the King happened to be standing, but it was the way his gaze held on him just a millisecond too long that made his intentions clear. Lucifer didn't notice at first, but once Beelzebub pointed it out to him, the King was on high alert.
Slowly, he escalated, taking longer and longer looks, the King catching him each time. He seemed to be enjoying their game, if the nervous smile on his face was anything to go by, but it was the information Alastor gathered from his tail that was most telling. Each time Lucifer caught him looking, the fluffy appendage would perk before slowly starting to wag. The longer Alastor held his gaze, the faster it would move, and he was rewarded with another pretty golden blush.
It became intoxicating, getting this reaction out of him. It almost felt like stalking his soon to be murder victims in his human life. Though far less malicious, it felt equally as carnal, the things he found himself imagining, the actions he wished to perform to watch that golden blush spread; things he hadn't considered doing since his years as a hormone ridden teen. ‘Lucifer, what are you doing to me?' his inner demon purred.
X
It was about half-way through the evening when Alastor realized just how screwed he really was.
A sinner arrived. A large black stag with red accents and antlers that gleamed in the light of the chandeliers. He was muscular and well dressed, clearly a man who took care of himself and knew how to accessorize, the gold chains hanging from his neck a bold statement, but not overly gaudy.
Alastor noticed him the moment he arrived. Oh, how he hated these animal instincts. Rationally, he knew this man was no threat to him, the hotel, or its residents. He was simply another guest, likely invited by one of the sinners currently staying at the hotel. His instincts, however, felt far differently. This man was a buck, a stag, and therefore an invader in his territory.
He took a deep breath and a swig of whiskey to calm himself, resolutely ignoring the new arrival and instead opting to walk over to Charlie, inserting himself in the outskirts of the group of demons surrounding her as she spoke of future plans for the hotel. He was only half listening, though, his instincts still itching at the back of his mind to fight the newcomer and get him out of his hotel.
‘Charlie's hotel,’ he reminded himself and forced his attention on her, though one ear still angled towards the sound of the stranger's hoof falls. It was because of this that he heard, loud and clearly, the sound of dear Nifty shouting.
“Oooo! You're big! Are you a bad boy?”
Alastor turned his head in time to see the stag smile kindly down at her. Without a second thought, he sent his shadow out to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“In a sense,” he answered with a playful wink, causing her to giggle.
Cherri Bomb sauntered up to him, casually wrapping an arm around the stag's shoulders. “He's a porn star,” she announced. “Rowan here works at the same studio as Angie.” Her smile turned sad at the memory of her absent friend. Luckily, she was soon distracted by Lucifer.
“A friend of Angel Dust, huh?” he asked. The King had been making an effort to remember the names of Charlie's closest friends.
Alastor tensed as the stag sinner perked in interest at the King’s sudden appearance, watching as Rowan's eyes subtly raked up and down Lucifer's small form.
“Well, any friend of Angel's is a friend of mine! Put ‘er there!” Lucifer held out his right hand, offering to shake.
Rowan took the offered hand, but instead of shaking it, he lowered into a bow, lifting Lucifer's hand to meet his lips in a gentle kiss to the King's knuckles. He looked up, his intense yellow gaze locked on the smaller man. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”
Lucifer's expression was one of complete shock, his ears and tail sticking straight up. Alastor could only watch as the golden blush, which had been reserved for him and him alone, graced the King's cheeks for this stranger. The rocks glass in his hand began cracking in his tightening grip.
“Oh! Um! I-I…” Lucifer gulped, brushing a few stray hairs from his face with his free hand and smiling down at the sinner nervously. “Oh, my!”
Rowan smiled back. “Don't you mean, ‘Oh, deer'?” he joked.
That seemed to catch the King of guard, and before he knew it, he was laughing, the jovial sound filling the ballroom. Once he'd calmed, wiping a mirthful tear from his eye, he turned to Cherri Bomb. “I like your friend,” he said with a grin.
Cherri grinned back as Rowan bowed his head respectfully. “I'm honored, Sir.”
Lucifer waved him off. “No need for formalities!” he insisted. “Call me, Lu.”
Rowan's smile turned honey sweet. “As you wish, Lu.”
Alastor felt his ears flatten against his will. He and Lucifer were not on such friendly terms. He hated to admit it, but he felt jealous of how quickly the King had taken to this other stag, this…stranger, warming to him in ways he could only wish. He was so distracted by these troubling thoughts, he didn't notice the large figure approaching from his left.
“Hello,” greeted the smooth, sultry voice of the King of Lust.
“Your Majesty,” he replied with a polite bow of his head. Then, not wanting to seem rude, added, “Lovely party.”
“Indeed,” the Sin agreed, looking over at where Lucifer was still talking to Cherri and Rowan. Something the stag said made the King of Hell giggle and Ozzie smiled knowingly as the sinner beside him tensed. “Lu is having fun,” he observed.
Alastor straightened, attempting to present indifference. “Yes, it would appear His Majesty is having a grand time. Good for him.” He couldn't help the bitterness that seeped into his voice.
Ozz feigned surprise. “Oh! Are you and Lucifer not friends?”
“We are not,” Alastor insisted. “I work and reside at his daughter's hotel. We are acquaintances. Nothing more.”
“My apologies,” the Sin said, inclining his head with a hand upon his chest as a sign of sincerity. “From the way Lu spoke of you, I thought you two were close. Please, forgive the assumption.”
Alastor's left ear flicked. There was a long stretch of silence before he finally asked, “What…did His Majesty say?” At the smirk on the Sin's face, he quickly added, “For the sake of curiosity!”
“Well,” Asmodeus began, “for starters, he finds you handsome.” The Sin's smirk only grew as he saw the sinner's ears and tail perk. “He thinks you're witty, charming, a snazzy dresser.” With each compliment, the man's fluffy appendages rose further and further, until they were as straight and rigid as Lucifer's had been after being flattered by that stag. Ozz leaned in conspiratorially. “Why, I'd say the King is quite taken with you.”
Alastor felt his cheeks heat up and knew for certain he was blushing. It took him a moment to find the strength to force out words, but once he did, he asked, “Is he now?” And if his voice was an octave higher than it normally was, well… Hopefully the King of Lust didn't notice.
Ozzie nodded solemnly. “I'm afraid so. The King is smitten.” He let out a dramatic sigh before saying, “Too bad you clearly don't feel the same. Poor Lu. He'll be so disappointed…”
Alastor's heart began to pound as the Sin made to walk back towards Lucifer.
“Oh, well,” Ozzie continued. “It can't be helped. Love, like lust, isn't something to be forced.”
“Wait!” Alastor called out.
Asmodeus looked back at the sinner expectantly.
“Please, do not tell him what we discussed. I…” He took a breath, a look of sudden determination on his face. “I must be the one to tell him how I feel.”
Ozz smiled down at the man. “How noble of you,” he said, and meant it. “I see why Lucifer likes you so much.” With a polite nod, he excused himself, walking back to the other Sins.
Alastor watched as Lucifer looked up at Asmodeus, then him, then back at Ozz, cocking his head curiously; an action he found adorable, especially when his ears flopped to one side like a hellpup's. The tiny monarch asked the King of Lust something he couldn't make out. Ozz just shook his head, replying with a warm smile on his face. Lucifer looked back over to where Alastor had been standing, but by that point, he was gone.
X
Alastor spent the remainder of the party fretting over when and how he was going to confess his feelings to Lucifer. His nerves were shot, to the point he was considering not confessing at all. ‘I don't have to do it tonight, right? There's no reason I can't put it off. Never mind the fact that other stag has been hanging around him since he got here.’ Alastor snarled, teeth gnashing at the thought of that beefy buck getting to Lucifer before he could.
He stopped dead in his tracks. “Look at yourself,” he chastised. “Pacing in some dark corner like an animal. You are not an animal,” Alastor reminded himself, “you are a man! Now act like one!” Magically, he called forth his staff, catching it in midair before promptly walking in the direction of the King.
Alastor found him near the ballroom entrance, speaking with Husk, Cherri, and Rowan. As he got closer, he heard the stag bidding the King farewell.
“Thank you for having me, Lu. It was a pleasure.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” the King insisted, a friendly grin on his face. “You're fun to talk to.”
“As are you.” Rowan leaned down as if to kiss the King's cheek, but instead the stag dipped further down and kissed his neck not once, but twice, his glowing yellow eyes locking with Alastor's.
The effect was instantaneous.
With a great elk-like shriek, Alastor rapidly grew in size, the spacious ballroom barely accommodating his massive form. His antlers, now multipronged and huge, scraped the ceiling and tangled in the chandeliers, tearing them from their wiring. Partygoers screamed and ran for cover as crystal, plaster and electric sparks rained down on them.
The Radio Demon glared at Rowan, glowing red dials ticking menacingly as he bared his fangs and brandished his claws. In a voice so dark and staticky, the audio waves seemed to fill the entire room, he shouted...
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Rowan quickly released his grip on Lucifer's upper arms and stepped back, ears flat and hands held up in a placating manner. “Whatever you say, man!” he shouted before turning tail and running.
Alastor leaned back, his muscles preparing to take chase, when his large sensitive ears picked up an oddly enchanting fluttering sound. He looked down and saw Lucifer gazing up at him. Compared to Alastor's current size, the King looked positively dainty, especially with his small hands gripping at the front of his tux like a lifeline. But he wasn't afraid. Oh, no. Lucifer was staring up at him in awe, pupils blown wide and sparkling. The fluttering sound was coming from his tail, which was wagging uncontrollably.
Slowly, carefully, Alastor crawled forward, his nose sniffing at the tiny man like a large cat. What he smelled made him growl in pleasure. Lucifer was excited; he was excited because of him. This fact immediately calmed him and he found himself back to his original size within seconds. He rose from the ground, standing proudly before his King, and though he was no longer massive, the power his aura exuded spoke volumes. No one would dare lay their filthy hands on his prize.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. That was when he noticed Lucifer's antlers had shrunk, now just two tiny prongs atop his head. All that remained of the larger ones was a single sprig of holly stuck in his golden locks, looking almost like a bow. Without those large antlers and standing in the shadow of his own, the King looked far more like a doe than a stag. His doe.
Alastor raised a hand, gently caressing Lucifer's cheek and watched, with no small amount of pleasure, as he shivered, the blush that had graced his doe's features since his transformation creeping down his pale neck. Alastor's grin grew, dark and devious and oh so tempting to the man in front of him. Without words, he led the King out the door and down the long hallway to the elevator, both their tails wagging in anticipation. They would deal with the consequences in the morning.
XxXxX